Re: [tied] Re: Pronunciation of "r" - again?

From: Andrew Jarrette
Message: 41345
Date: 2005-10-13



tgpedersen <tgpedersen@...> wrote:


You might have heard something else: Most second-language English
speakers have problems keeping /v/ and /w/ separate, especially if
they are allophones in their native language. You might have
heard /werI/ for 'very', but did she say /wa:s/ or /weIs/ for 'vase'?

-- This is so conspicuous among people of Indian (of India) origin who speak English, where "wife" is "vife" but "vowel" is "wowel".  I have much firsthand experience of this, so my report is absolutely no exaggeration.

 

Andrew